Dunfey, William L., 1925-1991
Dates
- Existence: 1925 - 1991
Biography
Born October 10, 1925, in Lowell, Massachusetts, William Dunfey was the 6th of 12 children. He enlisted in the Marines in 1943, and served in the Pacific during the second World War. Upon his return, Dunfey attended the University of New Hampshire and received his bachelors and masters degreeS. Beginning with a clam shack at Hampton Beach, Dunfey and his brothers built the Dunfey Hotels chain (which was later absorbed by Omni Hotels). Years later, the brothers formed the Dunfey Group, a venture capital firm. An active figure in NH politics, Dunfey gave considerable amounts of money to both Democrats and Republicans, largely the former. He was influential in the campaigns of numerous Democratic candidates, including Lyndon Johnson and John Kennedy. He was appointed by President Jimmy Carter as an alternate representative to the 34th General Assembly of the United Nations. In addition to his political work, Dunfey supported numerous activist groups and social organizations, including the Center for Constructive Change, the Seacoast Anti-Pollution League, and the New England Circle. He was a trustee of both UNH and Dartmouth Medical School, and also created, or supported, numerous publications in New Hampshire, including the monthly news magazine “The Spectator,” the international news service “WorldPaper,” and the “New Hampshire Times” weekly. Dunfey died after a long illness on February 9, 1991. He was 65.
Found in 1 Collection or Record:
William Dunfey papers
William “Bud” L. Dunfey; (1925-1991) hotelier and political activist in NH. Dunfey served on the campaigns of politicians such as John Kennedy and Lyndon Johnson, and was also appointed to the UN by President Carter. The collection includes both personal and professional papers, and includes correspondence, financial records, drafts of works by Dunfey, campaign information on both the national and state level, and information on the many organizations Dunfey supported.